GST: Textile indust­ry calls for 3-day bandh 

Hyderabad: Voicing concern over imposing of GST, textile traders in Telangana strongly protested against implementation of new tax regime, while giving a state-wide bandh call for three days—June 27, 28 and 29. Textiles are exempt from taxes now, why the Centre is imposing GST, questions the Telangana State Federation of Textile Associations (TSFTA), which has decided to take out rallies across the state on June 30.

“Ever since Independence, textiles were never taxed and they were always covered under exempted goods. As per the call given by the All India Textile Traders Associations, the trading fraternity of Telangana will also observe textile bandh for 72 hours during June 27, 28 and 29 across the state.

We’ll also take out rallies June 30 to protest against implementation of GST on textiles,” Ammanabolu Prakash, president, TSFTA, told the media here on Sunday. Fabric is the very common need of society and it is a part of ‘roti, kapada aur makaan’ slogan of every political party.

“GST Council, in initial stages, decided to levy GST only on products which are covered under VAT at State level or excise duty at Centre and those which are not covered under above categories are to be exempted. However, due to lobbying of 10 major manufacturers of textiles industries, the Council of GST imposed GST on textiles at the last moment. This is very unfortunate and shocking to the textile traders,” criticizes Prakash.

Textile trade is carried out in all parts of the country including remote villages. Over 80 percent of the people in this trade are un-organized and not educated. Women are working in this trade in urban and rural areas. They just earn their livelihood, but not creating massive wealth from textiles manufacturing or trading.